Welcome to the RSL Cup blog

I've been a fan of Real Salt Lake since it joined MLS and took to the field in 2005, and I've been a fan of MLS since it began in 1996. Lately however I've started to worry about the path MLS is taking and the poor decisions they are making that in my mind threaten the growth of soccer as a whole in the US. (see "Columbus conspiracy" section) Soccer in America will grow only when we have a vibrant and diverse minor league system, something that MLS seems to be smothering at the moment. (see "American soccer wars" section) Let's keep our eyes on the situation and hope for the best, a future where grass-roots soccer and the minor leagues can not only exist but flourish, as well as where the contributions and history of the league's early clubs are appreciated and preserved.

Sunday, December 15, 2013

RSL's 2013 season - one gigantic kick in the crotch

RSL's 2013 has been one gigantic kick in the crotch!

Sure, 2013 was supposed to be a "rebuilding" year and we made it all the way to the final. Not only that but we had a chance at the every other possible title available to MLS teams.

First we had a shot at the Supporters Shield, an outside shot but a shot nonetheless.

Second, the US Open Cup was ours for the taking, a game played on our home turf against this year's Relegation Boot recipient.

Third, we made it all the way to MLS Cup.

Finally, according to the rules since the inception of the CONCACAF Champions League we would qualify for next year's tournament since we made it to MLS Cup.

But no, the planets were out of alignment, our chi was off, and we finished the year with nothing but a kick in the crotch and a thank you sir.

The Supporters Shield came down to the last weekend but we were beat out, we lost the US Open Cup to DC United by a score of 1 - 0, we lost MLS Cup in a shootout to Sporting Kansas City, and thanks to a change of rules not approved until after the season was over Portland will play in the Champions League since they finished with the best record in the Western Conference (NY Red Bulls finished with the best record in the East and won the Supporters Shield.)

Anyway, goodbye 2013, thank heavens for the off-season. I need to get my mind on something else and forget this year.﻿

RSL won't participate in 2014-2015 tourney after CONCACAF vote

(realsaltlake.com 12-13-13)

Real Salt Lake announced on Friday that the club will not participate in the 2014-2015 CONCACAF Champions League. The CONCACAF executive committee voted today to adopt U.S. Soccer’s and Major League Soccer’s proposal to alter the USA’s qualification rules and that the changes will be implemented in the 2014-2015 round of the tournament.

Last January, Major League Soccer proposed a change to the USA’s qualification rules that was officially submitted by the U.S. Soccer Federation for CONCACAF approval. MLS proposed that the berth given to the MLS Cup runner-up be given instead to the MLS team that has the best regular season finish in the conference opposite of the Supporters’ Shield winner. The league believes that this change would make finishing first in each conference more significant. If one team were to qualify with multiple berths or a Canadian MLS team were to qualify, the berth would then go to the U.S. MLS team with the next best regular season record.

Real Salt Lake would have qualified under the old rules as 2013 MLS Cup runner-ups but that berth will now be awarded to Portland Timbers who finished the regular season first in the Western Conference – opposite of Supporters’ Shield winners New York Red Bulls.

Portland Timbers will join MLS Cup winners Sporting Kansas City, Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup winners D.C. United and New York as the four U.S. based MLS representatives in the 2014-2015 CONCACAF Champions League. The winner of the 2014 Canadian Championship – contested between MLS clubs Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Toronto FC and Montreal Impact and NASL side FC Edmonton – will also qualify for the 2014-2015 CONCACAF Champions League.

The winner of the CCL advances to the FIFA Club World Cup. Real Salt Lake reached the final of the 2010-2011 CONCACAF Champions League but ultimately lost to Mexican side Monterrey. RSL is the only MLS team to ever reach the CCL Final.﻿